Chaeles



(NoModex.)

C. C. OARPENTER.

BUSTLE. No. 324,226. Patented Aug. 11, 1885.

UNITED STATES PATENT CEETCE CHARLES C. CARPENTER, OF NET YORK, N. Y.

BUSTLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 324,226, dated August11,1885.

Application filed May 16, 1885. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern: p

Be it known that I, CHARLES C. CARPEN TER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at New Yorkcity, in the county of New York and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bustles;and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures ofreference marked thereon, which form a part of this speciiication.

This invention relates to bustles; and the novelty consists in theconstruction, arrangement, and adaptation of parts, as will be morefully hereinafter set forth, and speciically pointed out in the claims.

The object of the invention is to produce a light, cheap, and durablebustle-one that is simple in construction,wil1 retain its desirablecontour or shape, and one which will be ventilating in service.

I form tubes of fabric, stuft` them with a light flexible springymaterial, braid three or more such tubes together, and after bending thebraids thus formed into thedesired shape I secure the several ends to anordinary waistband by stitches. Two or more such braids may be used in asingle bustle, and their positions relatively to each other and the bandnot only determine the shape of the finished bustle, but allow, also,the formation of open interstices between the braids, which serve toallow free circulation of air.

This invention is in no sense a bustlein which the springs are formed ofelastic braids, which serve in the body of the bustle as stiffeners; butit comprises a bustle the structure of which is formed of braidedstuffed tubes arranged with relation to each other and a holding-band togive the desired form.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which form apart of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a side elevationof what I consider the preferred form Fig. 2, an inner face View; Fig.3, an enlarged View of one of the 5o tubes before braiding.-

Referring to the drawings, A designates a tube or sleeve of fabricfilled with curled hair, wool, shredded whalebone or wood, elastic toughgrass, or other material, which, being pressed closely together, willresist the pressure and exert a constant force to regain a normalposition. These rolls A are of greatest diameter at their centers, andbecome of gradu ally-less diameter in the direction of their ends. Threeof these rolls or stuffed tubes are braided closely together to formbraids B B2 B2. The rolls of greatest length give the longest finishedbraids, and these braids are bent and their ends 'secured to awaistband, C,` so as to give bristles of varioussizes and shapes. In theform shown in Fig. 2 the braid B is bent and attached by stitches b tothe band to form approximately a semicircle. The braid B2 is bent andsecured at b2 at points outside the points of stitching b', so as todescribe an arc of a circle of greater diameter. This forces the braidB2 to come into contact with the braid B' at points marked c, whichthrows this braid B2 into a graceful and desirable oval. The braid B3 isbent into a loop, and its points of attachment b3 to the band C areclose together at the center, while the looped braid B2 falls gracefullyover the braid B2, and the lower portion is bent inward and caught tothe braid B at c. With this construction various interstices, d, areleft bctween the braids to afford desired circulation of air.

The elastic lling is forced out of a normal position when it is placedwithin the tube, and will exert a constant influence to regain suchnormal position so long as it is confined.

This gives to the tube or roll its spring quality 5 but this quality isintensi( d b y the braiding of the several rolls, which forces the material still farther from a normal position,and still further magnifiedby the bending of the braids. Vhen braided and bent, the rolls comprisemost efficient springs for the purpose of a bustle. l

A bustle thus formed is equipped to withstand pressure from anydirection, and there is no necessity for cushioning any portion, becausethe entire structure is of itself a cushion. I avoid the necessity ofsoft covers, because the entire structure is soft and pliable.

IOO

While I prefer the form shown in'Fig. l, it

will be apparent that either the braid B B2 .or braid B" maybe omittedwithout departing from the principle of the invention. Either one ofthebraids by itself will effect some of the advantages due to theinvention.

Vhat I claim as new is- 1. A bustle composed of tubes of ilexible fabricfilled with elastic material, as wool, said tubes being closely braidedtogether and secured toa band to give to the bustle the shape desired,as set forth.

2. A bustle composed of flexible tubes stuffed with elastic ber or hair,the said tubes being braided together and bent, as set forth.

3. A bustle composed of flexible stuffed tubes formed into braids andthe braids arranged and secured together to give to the whole thedesired contour, as set forth.

4. A bustle composed of tubes stuffed with elastic material and braidedtogether, each tube being of greatest diameter at the center, and thebraid being bent and secured, as set forth. A

5. The bustle described, consisting` of the tubes A, stuffed withelastic fiber and braided together to form braids B B2 B, the saidbraids being bent and secured to the baud G at points b' Iil b, and thebraids caught together at points c c', all combined, arranged, andoperating as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES C. CARPENTER.

Witnesses:

J. B. NoNEs, J. MCCAFFREY.

